Acetylene gas generator



May 192.9. P. M DONALD ,3

' ACETYLENE GASIGENERATOR Filed Feb. 14, 1927 INVENTOR BY (9 a AT ronusv li atented May 7, 1929.

NITED STATES PATRICK MCDONALD, or WESTVILLE, InLInoIs.

AdETYLEnE GAS GENERATOR.

Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. 168,119.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene gas generators and has for its primary object the provision of means for maintaining an unobstructed valve controlled water outlet into the carbide cham* ber of the generator, so as to maintain the generator at a high state of efiiciency until the carbide has become exhausted.

lin acetylene generators of the type commonly used for miners lamps, the efficiency of the lamp is materially reduced when approximately one-half of the supply of carbide has been used. This is due to the failare of the water to pass through the dead or used carbide. When this occurs, the miner will refill the carbide chamber with the re suit that approximately one-half of the carbide is wasted.

To overcome this and other disadvantages, the present invention provides means for removing or scraping away the dead carbide which has collected around the water outlet, so that the water may reach fresh carbide and the efficiency of the lamp main tained without undue waste.

l/ i ith the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

lin the drawings I Figure l is a sectional view of an acetylone lamp of the type commonly used by miners, with the invention applied.

liigure 2 is a detail perspective view of the scraper.

llteferring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention is shown in connection with a miners lamp, although it is adapted for use in connection with acetylene gas generators of various types.

The reference character indicates a carbide chamber and 11 a water reservoir, the reservoir and chamber being attachably connected as indicated at 12, whereby the bottom wall of the water reservoir forms a closure for the carbide chamber so that the latter may be properly charged. Water is introduced into the reservoir 11 which is closed by a plug 13, while a tubular member 1 lcntends from the water reservoir into the carbide chamber and provides a conduit by means of which water is fed to the carbide within the chamber 10. An opening 15 is provided for the passage of water from the reservoir 11 into the conduit. A pipe 16 extends from the water reservoir and has its inner end in communication with the upper portion of the carbide chamber so that gas may pass through this pipe to a suitable burner (not shown), the latter being mounted within a reflector 17. The outlet end of the conduit is controlled by a valve 18 which of water from the conduit into the carbide chamber. All of the foregoing may be of the usual or any other suitable construction.

As before stated, operation of the gen erator will result in a collection of dead carbide around the outlet end of the conduit, and as water will not penetrate this dead carbide, the efiiciency of the lamp is reduced. To obviate this disadvantage, there is secured to the valve 18 a skeleton sleeve 22 which is shown in detail in. Figure 2 of the drawings. This sleeve has a free working fit upon the outside of the tubular member 14 so that when the valve 18 is rotated, rotation will be imparted to the sleeve. Extending longitudinally upon diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve are scraper ribs 23 and when the valve 18 is rotated to open and close the outlet end of the conduit, these ribs will act to scrape away the dead carbide and will maintain an unobstructed outlet at the lower end of the conduit when the valve is in open position. Due to the loose threaded engagement between the valve stem and the tubular member, water will pass in sufficient quantities to the outlet when the valve is open. Operation of the valve will thus:

maintain the generator at its proper efiiciency until all of the carbide within the chamber 10 has become exhausted.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is here- .in reserved. to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed is In an acetylene gas generator, a casing including a carbide chamber, a Water reser- 5 voir, a conduit opening into the carbidechamber for directing Water from the reservoir into said chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of water into said chamber, 'a sleeve rotatable about the conduit and se- 10 cured to the valve whereby operation of 

